In November 2013, experts from public, private and research sectors met at the Rockefeller Foundation’s «The Future of Revaluing Ecosystems» summit to explore ways to better value ecosystems today to ensure their healthy existence tomorrow. Learn what they had to say in the «Revaluing ecosystems: Visions of a better future» report and video.
Key ecosystems trends identified in the report include:
- Ecosystems shocks: Storms, floods and drought are impacting communities and companies in potent and personal ways. Rising awareness is sparking action to improve ecosystems.
- Localism: An upswell of grassroots activity among farmers, entrepreneurs and local governments is injectingenergy and resources into long neglected ecosystems. These local efforts continue despitethe lack of global and national CO2 reduction agreements that might benefit ecosystems.
- Innovation: New communication, information collection and governance tools are helping to better measure and manage natural capital in ways that also benefit communities.
- Data: An abundance of open, aggregated and applied data can help us make wise ecosystem investment and stewardship choices.
- Systems thinking: Thinking holistically about ecosystem issues rather than in individual silos can help spark powerful solutions that better address the complex needs and interactions of individuals,communities, economies and nature.
- Market forces: Corporations increasingly recognize that their business depends on a steady and reliable supply of raw materials from and services provided by ecosystems. As a result, the private sector has begun to work with nonprofits, governments and local communities to better valueand protect ecosystems.
- Trade-offs: To balance human and ecosystem needs more equitably, the costsand benefits of various ecosystemsmanagement options need to be better measured and more clearly communicated.
- Scale: By linking and leveraging insights, ideas and resources across sectors, we can replicate transformative solutions on a grand scale.
- National champions: Countries with much to lose and gain from environmental degradation are making ecosystem valuation a priority. These countriesmay drive change globally.
- Youth as change agents: Young people’s awareness ofthe importance of preserving ecosystems is growing and couldhelp change behavior worldwide. Enlightened consumers may spend more to «go green».